A privately owned ferry carrying a diesel tanker drifted backwards while manoeuvring at the Adpai ferry point in Goa, dropping the tanker into shallow water and exposing a regulatory gap over the use of the ramp and oversight of private ferry operations.
The incident occurred while the tanker was being driven onto the ferry. According to the River Navigation Department (RND), the vessel slipped from its position because it was not properly secured to the mooring pile. The ferry remained in shallow water, preventing a more serious mishap, and was later brought back into position.
The tanker was removed from the water without major damage, RND director Vikram Rajebhosale said. The account did not report injuries or a major spill, but the incident involved a diesel tanker being loaded onto a privately owned vessel at a ferry point used for river transport.
The RND said the ferry was not part of its ferry service. It also said the owner had not obtained permission to use the Adpai ferry ramp. The department’s account places the operation outside the regular government ferry system while raising questions about how private vessels access public or operational ferry infrastructure.
Rajebhosale said the ferry drifted during manoeuvring because it had not been adequately secured to the mooring pile. The ferry was subsequently repositioned and the tanker taken off, allowing the immediate operation to be completed without major damage, according to the RND.
The incident has also highlighted a transition in regulatory responsibility. Rajebhosale said oversight of matters involving private ferries is expected to shift to the Goa Maritime Board under new maritime legislation. The proposed shift includes licensing and certification responsibilities.
Because of that transition, the RND director said the department was not authorised to take action against the private ferry owner. The statement indicates that responsibility for regulating the vessel may no longer rest with the department that manages or oversees the state ferry service, even though the incident occurred at a ferry point.
The reported lack of permission to use the Adpai ramp and the absence of action by the RND leave the immediate administrative process dependent on the new regulatory arrangement. The source report did not state whether the Goa Maritime Board had opened proceedings, issued a notice or confirmed the vessel’s licensing status.
For ferry users and authorities, the incident brings operational controls at loading points into focus. Securing a vessel during tanker loading, authorising access to ferry ramps and determining which agency can intervene are separate parts of the same safety chain. In this case, the tanker was recovered after the ferry remained in shallow water, while regulatory action was complicated by the transfer of oversight.
The next formal step will depend on the Goa Maritime Board’s role under the new maritime legislation and on whether the private ferry’s use of the Adpai ramp and licensing status are reviewed by the competent authority.
